Acute, chronic pain can hinder your daily routines and activities. Even simple tasks such as making breakfast or taking your dog for a walk are difficult. If your current treatment plan is not working, a pain management physician might help.

Pain management practices, such as South Hills Pain & Rehab, use a multidisciplinary approach tailored to each patient's specific needs to help them better manage their pain and regain their quality of life. Relief can come in the form of rehab, medication, or injections to relieve irritation, swelling or muscle spasms.

Dr. Maureen Ginsburg of South Hills Pain & Rehab said some people are surprised a pain management physician even exists.

"Patients are used to seeing a cardiologist for their heart or an orthopedic physician for joint pain," she explained. "But there is no organ in your body that is a 'pain' organ. So some people are unaware of who we are and what we can do."

Dr. Ginsburg is one of four pain management physicians at the independent practice. South Hills Pain & Rehab was founded in 2002 by Dr. Rajesh Mehta, who has been in practice for over 17 years. The other two physicians are Dr. Aleksandr V. Mikhaylovskiy and Dr. Anthony J. Kirby. Another key treating person on staff is physician assistant, Rochelle Scott, C-PA.

All four physicians were trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Their collective rehabilitation background is a key differentiator in the pain management field because it allows them to focus more on a multidisciplinary approach. Most pain management physicians' backgrounds are either in anesthesiology or physical medicine and rehabilitation.

"Anesthesiologists tend to be a bit more procedural oriented," said Dr. Ginsburg. "From our standpoint, a multidisciplinary approach is in the best interests of our patients for managing pain."

While the physicians at the practice have similar rehabilitation backgrounds, Dr. Ginsburg noted that each physician can meet a person's diverse needs. Dr. Mehta and Dr. Kirby can perform EMG & NCS (electromyography and nerve conduction studies), a diagnostic tool to assess pain and identify any motor control disorders. Dr. Mikhaylovskiy and Dr. Ginsburg are more pain-oriented. There are different procedures Dr. Ginsburg will do that the others do not and vice versa.

"Everyone comes from the same background but we look at each aspect of pain slightly different and that improves our outcomes," Dr. Ginsburg added. "Sometimes we would ask one of the other physicians for a different perspective or recommendation. Everything we do is to benefit our patients."

Dr. Ginsburg recommends seeing a pain management physician right away. In some cases, patients will make an appointment as a last resort. Even if it gets to that point, Dr. Ginsburg said they can still help.

"If you are unable to manage your pain at home or if your primary care physician is unsure exactly what else to do, that's definitely where we can come into play," she said. "As a specialist in pain management, we still have a variety of options to improve your pain and increase your function."

To schedule an appointment with South Hills Pain & Rehab, call (412) 469-7722. Their main office is in Jefferson Hills and they have satellite locations in Bethel Park, Monessen and Brentwood.